Exterior Structural Lamination Damage Expert

[Portsmouth1]

I am having an issue with Good Sam insurance. I had a very bad issue with my leveling system where the coach lurched rapidly up on passenger rear and lowered due to that in the front. I believe it caused a pop of my outer fiberglass in the right rear quarter but Good Sam (NGIC) just saying age and poor maintenance so not going to cover it. I say BS but need an expert to look at it or pics. Any help? It is now at Camping World in Indiana getting fixed. Thanks

[bpu699]

Does insurance cover that? Is that a mechanical issue?

I can see a warranty might cover it, but isn’t good sams collision type insurance?

Don’t know, just asking.

[sbleiweiss]

I am a lawyer so I get advertisements from a place called Experts.com. I haven't used them but you might try a search on their site.

[TXiceman]

I doubt if any insurance will cover such damage. especially on an 18-year-old motorhome. As RVs age, they will generally suffer some delamination of the siding.

Ken

[Portsmouth1]

It should be covered in comprehensive. So, if you have an older car and your brakes fail and the car is damaged or causes damage to another, no coverage. That wont fly

[Portsmouth1]

It is a $12K fix according to camping world. Also, heads up; Camping World will not take on selling a RV over 10 years old. Camping World and Good Sam are somehow connected. This must be to push new sales. So, just get ready to have values drop like a rock after 10

[Dav L]

"What comprehensive car insurance doesn’t cover
Although comprehensive car insurance might be the right option for certain natural disasters and having your car stolen, it’s not going to help you in every scenario. Here’s a list of things that a comprehensive policy doesn’t typically cover:

Damage to your car from a collision with another vehicle or object
Damage to another car or piece of property resulting from a collision
Medical expenses that result from a car accident
Mechanical breakdown
Normal wear and tear
Routine car maintenance
Theft of personal items within your vehicle"

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Portsmouth1

It should be covered in comprehensive. So, if you have an older car and your brakes fail and the car is damaged or causes damage to another, no coverage. That wont fly

No, don't think so. Comprehensive would have covered it if a tree had fallen on your motorhome and did the damage. For the most part though, that portion of your insurance policy doesn't cover a mechanical breakdown or the damage caused by it.

If your brakes failed and caused damage to yours or another vehicle, then your collision would cover your vehicle and your liability would cover the other.

[Portsmouth1]

Well, what they are doing is saying, your vehicle is old so it just will happen and we are not covering it. It did not just happen; it was caused by a mechanical failure of another system. Age did not have anything to do with this issue. It was caused by stresses beyond normal. I am looking for an expert on delamination who can say what is what. I was in the motor home along with someone else and the movement caused by the defective HWH system is what caused the problem. The insurance should cover this but please read up on NGIC and you will see they are pulling this little stunt a lot.

[avfordguy]

I have been working on mororhomes for over 30years, have owned about 10 class "A's".
I have seen windshields pop out windshields crack, entrance doors that don't latch, entrance door frames bent, sidewall cracks generally under slide outs, roofs that have separated from sidewalls, sidewalls that have moved from floor supports, all of the items listed above were due to the rv chassis being twisted via auto leveling or manually leveling jacks. I have to agree with the insurance inspectors that you praticular issue is not the cause of de lamination. De lamination is more prevalent in cold climates due to moisture/water entering the sidewall generally from a defective window seal or a roof seal to the wall, once moisture enters the wall it freezes and pops the fiberglass bond to the luan panel that it is bonded to. Generally from what I have learned, if your buying an older coach, buy one that has spent its life in hot/dry conditions.

[mlpeloquin]

Most older cars are just totaled by the insurance company. My neighbor had that problem with a old, but new looking Prius. A car hit him from behind and pushed him into another one in front. He bought it back as salvage. Purchased new bumpers front and rear, hood and found a almost new charging system with battery for a Tesla, and fixed it. Had it painted. What a driving range it has now!

[Portsmouth1]

Thanks. The leveling system did cause the issue but I had no prior issues with delamination and yes, window broke later.

[Dav L]

Yes, a twisted chassis can delaminate a sidewall. Envision a cube of cardboard. If you twist it, the sides will try to separate from the other sides and crumple.

A picture of the problem would be helpful for further insights.
By you calling it delamination, points RV'rs to water damage which is far more common and is due to lack of roof maintenance (typically).

No, comprehensive will not cover the issue.
A Service Contract might have covered the leveler issue (if that is broken).
The leveling system isn't "Defective", it's "Broken".

[Dav L]

I received your PM. I don't use PM as the number is extremely limited on this forum.
To post a pic, use SEARCH. Very easy to find out how.